Ventilated water closet or toilet



Feb- 2, 1943. J. G. scHo-rTHoEFER 2,309,925

VENTILATED WATER CLOSET OR TOILET Filed May 3, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ...af/W04 n am H e, .im .1 a Z0 /6 6. V 6/ I Il 7474/4 I N V EN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

Feb.` 2, 1943. J. G. scHoT'n-loEl-'ERA A VENTILATED WATER CLOSET OR TOILET Filed May 3, 1941 from the toilet bowl.

, Patented Fei.. 2, 1943 vstains UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ica 2,309,925' VENTILATED .WATER cLosE'r on TOILET Joseph G. schoahoezer, neu-oit, Mich.

Application May 3, 1941, Serial No. 391,796

y14 Claims.

` in the bowl.

It is appreciated that various forms of ventilated toilets have heretofore been constructed or proposed which embodied the Ventilating' means as a unitary part of the toilet or as at tachments adapted to be installed with standard toilet constructions.

Such prior constructions, however, failed to successfully meet the maximum requirements of a ventilated toilet for various reasons, most important of which are enumerated as follows:

Many of such prior constructions involve a fan to create av gas suction and while by such means the foul gases may be eectively discharged, such fans created an uncomfortable or objectionably cool sensation to the user of the toilet.

Furthermore, such constructions are relatively complicated and include many parts external to the bowl and tank, thereby-providing an unsightly appearance as well as a toilet structure capable of collecting dust and unsanitary accumulations, and in these complicated structures, in which a large number of elements are embodied, the chances of breakage or inoperativeness thereof are substantially increased.

In some of these prior constructions, a flow of water at' relatively high velocity is utilized to create a partial vacuum to draw the foul gases These constructions are open to objection on the grounds of complicated mechanism and also to the fact that an objectionably large volume of water is used in their operation.

The heretofore proposed constructions in the form of attachments are particularly objectionable in that substantially the same amount of labor is required to install them as is required to install a complete toilet and, furthermore, such attachments or parts thereof are exterior of the bowl and tank, thereby offering the same objection as above noted in connection with the unitary constructions.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of a ventilated water closet or toilet wherein the entire mechanism is completely enclosed asa unit within the toilet casing structure, and

wlhich is operable by the usualflush tank han d e.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a ventilated water closet or toilet having incorporated within the bowl and flush tank thereof Ventilating means embodying a valvecontrolled water tube in communication with the Water feed line, the water tube having small apertures upwardly directed to prevent clogging and so that the small streams of water strike th'e adjacent concaved baille slightly tangent thereto, thereby reversing their direction and converting the small solid stream into forcibly descending drops, guided by the baille apron down thecenter of the channel to provide a partial vacuum therein. This action causes foul gases to be withdrawn from within the toilet bowl and discharged into the flush water outlet, the ventilating means further including a closable opening to prevent return of foul gases when the ventilating means is inoperative upon closing of the valve, and common means actuatable by the flush handle for simultaneously opening the valve and port and simultaneously closing same.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a vunitary ventilated water closet or toilet which involves relatively few simple parts completely enclosed'within the toilet housing.

A still further objectV of the invention is the provision of a ventilated water closet or toilet in which the foul gases are drawn from the bowl by a suction caused by a rapid succession of drops of` water within' a channel -in communication with the bowl, the water drops being delivered by a valve-controlled tube having lsmall apertures, whereby a relatively small volume of water is used even though the valve be left open for a substantially long period of time.

For a more complete understanding of the objects and nature of the invention,` reference will be had to the following detailed description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the improved ventilated water closet or toilet in accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention. i n

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the toilet with the seat in raised position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental enlarged sectional view of the rear portion of the seat and adjacent' a horizontal section in the plane of supply line and the iloat controlled check valve.

Fig. 8 is a view partly in .side elevation .and partly in vertical section of the ventilator control means.

Fig. 9 is a view corresponding to a portion of Fig. 8 showing another position of the control means.

Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view substantially in the plane of line Ill-I0, Fig. 8. with a portion of the tank casing shown in'vertical section.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal section on line I`I--i i, Fig. 10, with certain parts omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 12 is a top plan view of a swing port cover embodied in the construction. p

Fig. 13 is a right-hand elevation of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a hinge plate embodied in the construction.

Fig. 15 is a broken plan view of the ush actuating crank means;

Fig. 16 is a top plan view of a combined valve and cover actuating cam.

Fig. 17 is an end view of an abutment sleeve.

Fig. 18 is a side view thereof.

' Fig. 19 is a broken side elevational view of the ball actuating arm.

Fig. 2liV is a top plan view of a portion of same.

Fig. 21 is a side view of a second abutment sleeve embodied in the construction. y

Referring now in detail to the drawings by reference characters, and wherein like characters designate like or corresponding parts in the different views, the letter .i designates the ventilated toilet or water closet in its entirety and which essentially embodies a bowl B and ush tank F.

The bowl and tank are generally of usual'or standard construction and may be unitary or the tank may be separated from the bowl in the plane of the line 5 5 as herein indicated.

In conformity with usual practice the water supply pipe s has associated therewith the floatcontrolled check valve c. The flush tank F is provided with the usual ball b having 'a lifting rod r guided by an overow pipe o. The ball b cooperates with the cupped upper end of the nipple n whose lower end enters chamber m which,

case the bowl is ooded nothing unsanitary can lodge therein.

The rubber strip I3 .terminates in spaced parallel ends I5 which in the closed position of the seat engage the end wall I8 at the open end of the port I2 and a short transverse rubber strip I I extends over the ends I5 and bridges the spe between the rear of the seat and said end wall i6, and is clearly indicated in Fig. 3.`

Thus it will be seen that when the seat opening is closed by the usual lid or by a persony using the toilet air is admitted only through the small ports Il, between the rubber strip ends I5, through port I2, and into the chamber I0.

The bowl B is further modined in the provision of a chamber I8 to the rear of the discharge tube f and an opening I9 is provided in the wall separating the tube f and chamber I3. The chamber IB tapers down from top to nearly round in crosssection and before opening I9 in its course to make ample room for bubbles or foam that may result from forced water to pass through opening I9 without obstruction.

The flush tank F is modied to the extent of providing same with a substantially thickened rear wall and forming in said wall vertical channels 20 and 2i which preferably extend the full height of the tank with the upper end of said channel-providing wall defining aA control mechanism seat 22 on which as well as the front wall of the tank the rim of the usual tank lid l rests. The channels 25 and 2| respectively communicate with chambers I0 and I8 at their lower ends and the upper ends of the channels open through said seat 22. l

suitably/supported on the seat 22 is a housing 23V through which extends substantially centrally thereof a small tube 24 having one end thereof plugged as at 25 and the opposite end thereof in communication with a valve casing 26 having a Valve 2 secured to and movable to open and closed position relative to the valve seat 28 by means of a stem 29 mounted' for vertical sliding movement in the valve casing head 30 and a bearing 3| provided by the lower end of the valve casing.

'Ihe valve casing 26 is in communication with the water supply pipe s through a pipe connection 32.

as usual, encircles the rim of the bowl B where it is provided with apertures a for admitting flush water within the bowl trap t whence in ushing the water discharges through the flush outlet tube f.

The structure so far described is of standard construction and the bowl B and tank F are in accordance with this invention modiiied for incorporation of the improved Ventilating mechanism.

The bowl B in accordance with this invention embodies in addition to the usual parts a chamber I0 having the apertures ii in its bottom wall for the nipple n and a port I2 communicating with the chamber I0 at one end thereof and having its other end open adjacent the rear of the seat S. The seat S has suitably secured to its lower side a somewhat oval-shaped rubber strip I3 having small horizontally disposed air ports I4 adjacent the front of the seat S.

The port I2 connecting chamber IIJ with bowl B is substantially on an incline as shown and is also above the level of the bowl ring. so that in the housing 23 and includes a downwardly concave deiector portion 35 merging into a'substantially vertical apron 36 which, adjacent its lower edge, is preferably slightly roughened and of wave or corrugated form.

As indicated in Fig. 10, the apron terminates adjacent the upper end of the channel 2l and the apertures 33 are of such size that only a sumcient volume of water will be sprayed onto the baille plate that it will emerge from the apron 36 in successive drops. However, the water will impinge upon the baille under relatively high pressure which will not be substantially diminished in the drops descending vertically from the apron 36. traveling under relatively high velocity, will effect a partial vacuum with the result that foul gases will be drawn from the bowl B upward through channel 20 and thence carried down the channel ZI and escape through the opening These successive water drops,

|l.thejsmall airports I4 in the nibberstrlp I3 accounting 'for the suction effect throuzh the channels above described.

The present invention includes simple means for operating the valve 21 and simultaneously checking the return of foul gases by way of channels 2| and 20, respectively. -This means in its preferred form is manually operable through manipulation -ofthe usual flush handle whose shaft 31 is rectangular in cross-section throughout the major portion of the length thereof, the shaft terminating in a cylindrical portion 38 which is freely rotatable in a cam member 39 including a cylindrical portion 40 rotatably lournalled in a plate 4| integral or rigid with the valve casing 26.

The cam 39 further includes a cam portion 42 which is embraced by a fork 43 of an arm 44 pivotally connected to the plate 4| at 45.

The arm 44 is provided with a pair of abutment lugs 46 and 41 between which the ovalshaped head of the valve stem 29 rests with opposed convex faces of the head engaging the respective lugs and the lug 46 is recessed as at 48 to receive the stem 29. Thus, as the cam 39 is oscillated clockwise and counter-clockwise the arm 44 will be rocked about its pivot 45 to respectively open and close the valve 21 according to Figs. 8 and 9, respectively.

The cam 39 further includes an arm 49 having an aperture 50 in which is pivotallyv connected one end of a rod whose opposite end is pivotally connected at 52 to a lever 53 having a pivot stud 54 extending through a wall of the housing 23 and the lever terminates beyond the pivot stud in a disc Weight 55 adapted to contact a stop lug 56 on the housing 23 in the open position of the valve.

A lever arm 51 is secured to the pivot stud 54 as by a cotter 58 and the lever arm is adapted upon oscillation of the pivot stud to project through an opening 59 in the top wall of a chamber 68 within the housing 23, the chamber being in communication -with the upper end of the channel 20.

A cover 6| having opposite end trunnions 62- f extend into apertures 66 in walls of the housing 23.

The cover 6| closes the opening 59 under gravity and is lifted from closed position as in Fig. by means of the lever arm 51.

As will be seen from Figs. 8 and 10, the cover 6| is raised from the chamber opening 59 when the valve 21 is open whereby the'upper ends of the channels 2|) and 2| are in communication for flow of the foul gases in the manner above described, but upon closing the valve 21 by swingingarm 44, as in Fig. 9, the lever arm 51 will be rocked to permit gravity closing of the cover 6| to prevent reverse movement of foul gasesl upward through the channel 2| and downward through the channel 20.

The flush handle shaft 31 is rotatable counterclockwise to flush the toilet as usual and for this purpose has a contact sleeve 68 secured thereto as by a cotter extending through the cooperating apertures 69 and 10, and this contact sleeve cooperates with a lever arm 1| rotatably supported ,on the shaft 31 between the contact sleeve 68 and a cotter to extend through an aperture 12 in the shaft.

The sleeve 68 and arm 1| are provided with The shaft 31 is adapted upon clockwise .rotation thereof to rotate the cam 39 as in Fig. 8 to open the valve 21 and cover 6| to put the ventilating system into operation and for thispurpose a second contact sleeve 16 is secured against axial movement to the shaft as by a cotter extending through the cooperating apertures 11 and 18, and this sleeve is provided with a contact lug 19 having a face 80 to engage a face 8| 'of a contact lug 82 on the cam 39 to open the l valve 21 and cover 6|, and the lug 19 is provided with a second face 83 to contact a face 84 on the lug 82 to move the cam 39 counter-clockwise `for closing the valve 21 and cover 6|.

Thus, the Ventilating arrangement is capable of being put into operation by swinging the handle H upward, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2, and being put out of operation by swinging the handle down again to its normal horizontal position.

The toilet is capable of being flushed upon downward movement only of the handle H in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 2, and during this movement the cooperating abutment lugs 19, 82 will recede and no movement will result in the cam 39.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that a ventilated water closet or toilet is provided by this invention which is unitary in construction, presents the same external appearance as the usual water closets or toilets and which includes relatively simple Ventilating mechanism capable of being put into or out of operation by turning the ush tank handle upwardly in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, respectively.

Furthermore, the cooperating parts are simple and not liable to get out of order and by the use of a relatively small .volume of water as a vacuum forming means to discharge the foul gases, maximum economy in operation is attained.

While I have disclosed but a single specific embodiment of my invention, the same is to be considered as illustrative only and not restrictive,

' the scope of the invention being defined in the sub-joined claims.

What I claim and desire to secure byU. S.

'the other channel communicating with the bowl,

means for selectively creating a partial vacuum in one of said channels, means for selectively effecting communication between the upper ends of said channels, and means for simultaneously operating both of said first means.

2. A ventilated water closet or toilet according to claim 1. wherein the last mentioned means ,to claim 1, wherein said first means comprises a valve-controlled water pipe having a plurality of apertures in its wall adjacent one end thereof,

and. a baille plate adjacent the apertures and including an apron terminating adjacent the upper end of said rst channel, the baille causing the water to forcibly descend within the channel in the form of successive drops for creating said partial vacuum therein.

4. A ventilated water closet or toilet according to claim LWherein said second means comprises a cover-closable opening between the upper ends of said channels.

5. A ventilated water closet or toilet according to claim 1, wherein a. seat is hingedly secured to said bowl and provided with a rubber strip for engagement with the top of the bowl, the strip terminating in parallel ends rearwardly ofthe seat, and a short rubber strip superposed on said ends defining an opening incommunication with said second channel.

6. A ventilated water closet or toilet including a, bowl, having a flush outlet, a normally interrupted passageway interconnecting the top of the bowl and said ush outlet, means including an apertured pipe and associated baflie plate for forcibly projecting water drops through the passageway to draw foul gases therethrough and from within the bowl to said ush outlet, and means for operating said rst means and simultaneously removing the interruption in the passageway.

7. A ventilated water closet or toilet comprising a bowlfhaving a ush outlet and associated flush tank having a hush-operating handle, a housing within the tank adjacent the top thereof, a pair of channels extending vertically within the tank and having their respective lower' ends communicating with the vtop of the bowl and the flush outlet thereof, the upper ends of the channels communicating with the housing: means within the housing for effecting suction through the channels to draw foul gases from within the bowl to said flush outlet, means within the housing for selectively opening or closing the upper end of one of said channels, and means operable by the flush-operating handle for effecting opening or closing of said channel and rendering said rst means operative or inoperative simultaneously therewith.

8. In a water closet or toilet comp a bowl and an associated flush tank having a handle swingably mounted thereon for movement to opposite sides of a normal inoperative position and being operative to flush the bowl upon movement in one direction from said normal position; bowl 4Ventilating means, and operative connections between said means and handle to render said ventilating means operative upon movement of the handle in a direction opposed to the flushing movement and inoperative upon return of the handle in the rst direction to its normal position.

9. A ventilated water closet or toilet comprising a bowl and an associated flush tank having a flush operating handle, a channel leading from escasas the top of the bowl to a point adjacent the top of the .flush tank, a second channel communieating with the flrst channel and leading to the flush outlet of the bowl, means normally interrupting' communication between the channels, means operatively connected with the handle for creating a downward suction in the second channel with a resulting lupward movement oi' foul gases in the first channel and thence downwardly in the second channel through the flush outlet /ot the bowl, and means connected with the handle for placing said channels in communication concurrent with the creation of s, suction in the second channel. Y

10. A ventilated water closet or toilet comprising a bowl and associated flush tank having a horizontal flush-operated shaft provided with an actuating handle, nush means within the tank connected with the shaft `for operation upon movement of the handle in one direction, and ventilating means having operating mechanism within the'tank above said shaft and connected therewithfor operation thereby upon movement of the handle in the opposite direction.

11. In a water closet or toilet comprising a bowl and an associated flush tank having a horizontally disposed operating shaft therein operatively connected with the flushing mechanism, and a normally horizontal handle secured to the shaft e of the tank and operative upon downward movement thereof to flush the bowl; ventilating means for said bowl operatively connected with said shaft for being rendered operative ana inoperative upon upward movement of said handle and return movement thereof to said horizontal position respectively.

12. In a water closet or toilet including a bowl having an outlet and an associated nush tank having an oscillatable shaft supported therein and operatively connected with the flushing mechanism, and a handle externally of the tank for actuating said flushing mechanism upon movement of the handle in one direction; ventilating means for said bowl comprising a housing supported above said tank, a passageway interconnecting the housing with an upper zone of the bowl, a second passageway interconnecting the housing with said outlet, valve controlled means for discharging drops of water through said second passageway toward said outlet to draw foul gases from said bowl and discharge same through said outlet, and means operatively connected with said shaft for operating said valve upon movement of said handle in another direction.

13. The structure according to claim 12, wherein said valve-controlled means comprises a tube having a plurality oi water-discharging apertures, and a baille member cooperating with said tube and disposed to discharge drops of water into said second passageway.

14. The structure according to claim 12, together with means within said housing for placing said rst passageway out of and intocommunication with said second passageway, and means operative by said shaft for actuating said means concurrent with the operation of said valve.

' JOSEPH G. SCHO'I'IHOEFER.. 

